ANCHOR INTRO:
EVERYONE KNOWS GIFT CARDS ARE HOT THESE DAYS...BUT HERE'S A HEADS UP! NOW THERE'S A NEW TYPE THAT'S REALLY TAKING OFF...
A GIFT THAT DOESN'T LET YOU CHOOSE WHERE YOU FILL YOUR SHOPPING BAGS...BUT WILL GET YOU PACKING YOUR BAGS INSTEAD! _________EXPLAINS.

TRACK ONE Length: 03
JESSICA BOYD IS A TRUE GLOBE TROTTER.

SOT
KEY @: 06 Jessica Boyd, Traveler
"I've been to Costa Rica, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy.... all over the US."

TRACK TWO Length: 04
SO A GIFT THAT COULD HELP COVER HER AIRFARE WOULD SEND HER SOARING.

SOT
Length: 01(Jessica Boyd, Traveler)
"That would be fantastic."

TRACK THREE Length: 09
NOTE TO CLIENTS: For details on which airlines offer cards and certificates, see source material below.
SEVERAL MAJOR AIRLINES HAVE JUST THE TICKET FOR PEOPLE LIKE JESSICA. IN ADDITION TO GIFT CERTIFICATES, TRAVELERS CAN NOW GET GIFT CARDS FOR MONEY TOWARDS FLIGHTS.

SOT
KEY @: 24 Dan Horne, Marketing Professor(Providence College)
"They're able to go to the website, book their travel, and then enter their card code right then and there."

TRACK FOUR Length: 04
MARKETING PROFESSOR DAN HORNE SAYS THESE GIFT CARDS ARE REALLY TAKING FLIGHT.

SOT
KEY @: 37 Dan Horne, Marketing Professor(Providence College)
"It's new, it's different. Now, you have maybe not just giving somebody a chance to go buy a sweater in a store but something that will create a lasting memory."

TRACK FIVE Length: 07
BEFORE YOU BUY A CARD...HORNE SAYS, READ THE FINE PRINT. WHILE MOST AIRLINES DON'T HAVE EXPIRATION DATES, YOU SHOULD CHECK FOR POSSIBLE FEES.

SOT
KEY @: 50 Dan Horne, Marketing Professor (Providence College)
"Some sort of fee structure is going to reduce the balance of that card."

TRACK SIX Length: 08
WHILE SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT BUYING GIFT CARDS FROM AN INDUSTRY PLAGUED WITH PROBLEMS...EVEN BANKRUPTCIES...HORNE SAYS NO NEED TO WORRY.

SOT
KEY @: 1:05 Daan Horne, Marketing Professor(Providence College)
"In reality, airlines go bankrupt to protect their business and don't intend to go out of business."

TRACK SEVEN Length: 08
IN FACT, HE BELIEVES THOSE CARRIERS WILL WORK TO PLEASE CUSTOMERS EVEN MORE. JESSICA ISN'T WORRIED AND SAYS SHE'D BE FLYING HIGH WITH ANY GIFT OF FLIGHT.

SOT
Length: 02(Jessica Boyd, Traveler)
"I'd love somebody to chip in on my travel."

ANCHOR TAG:
THE CARDS AREN'T JUST BEING USED AS GIFTS. SOME EMPLOYERS USE THEM FOR EMPLOYEE TRAVEL AND OTHER PEOPLE USE THEM INSTEAD OF CREDIT CARDS TO PAY FOR FLIGHTS WHEN BOOKING ONLINE.

SOURCE LIST

Dan Horne
dhorne@providence.edu
401-865-2722
Koffler Hall
Providence College
Providence, RI 02918

BACKGROUND:
America West/US Air, Southwest, and American Airlines currently offer gift cards. AirTran, JetBlue, Delta, Northwest, Continental, Frontier, and United offer gift certificates.